Coil cleaner



arch 17, 1936. W M, MARKER 2,034,195

COIL CLEANER Filed Sept. 19, 1934 Y s Sheets-Sheet 1 March 17, @326. w. M. MARKER COIL CLEANER Filed Sept. 19, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATS 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a coil cleaner and relates more'particularly to a device for cleaning beer coils, etc. A general object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive device for removing accumulations of slime, etc., from coils and pipe lines handling beer.

The pipes and coils of apparatus for handling and dispensing beer must be cleaned at short intervals to remove undesirable accumulations. I-Ieretofore it has been the usual practice to clean beer. coils and beer handling piping systems with chemicals or steam, or both. These methods are not altogether satisfactory as they are injurious to the coils, pipes, fittings and valves and often put" the apparatus out of service for substantial periods, particularly where the coils or lines extend through refrigerators or cooling apparatus. The interiors of coils and pipes passing beer become coated with a relatively hard thin incrustation called beer stone, which is very desirable as it prevents direct contact of the beer with the metal of the coils and pipes. The steam and chemicals heretofore employed in cleaning the coils and pipes, injured and often destroyed the beer stone with the result that the beer later passed through the coils and pipes is given a metallic flavor or taint.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a practical, effective device for cleaning coils and pipes for handling beer that removes the;undesirable accumulations from the coils and pipes without injuring the beer'stone or the littings and valve of the apparatus.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide a device for quickly removing slime and undesirable accumulations from coils and pipes carrying beer that'does not necessitate the removal of the coils or pipes and requires that the apparatus be out of service for a minimum period.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned that passes or circulates a cleansing or scouring material through the coil and/or pipes which does not taint the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned that may be operated by water under pressure from a city water supply pipe or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coil cleaner of the character mentioned that is small and compact and easy and convenient to use in restricted or confined situations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a deviceof the character mentioned in which the elfect of the cleansing process or action may be: observed when the device is in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coil cleaner of the character mentioned that embodies a minimum number of simple, inexpensive parts and comprises a single upright body having a relatively small diameter.

The various objects and features of the invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device provided by the present invention showing it connected with a coil. Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged ver'-' tical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse or horizontal detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line id on Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed sectional View taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3.

The coil and pipe cleaning device of the present invention includes, generally, a body in having two chambers A and B adapted to be placed in communication with the opposite ends of a coil or piping system, cleansing or scouring material l l adapted to be circulated from one chamher to the other through the coil or system, and means l2 for reversing the flow of the flushing water and scouring material through the coil or system and the chambers A and B.

The device of the present invention is portable so that it may be readily applied to or connected with beer coils and beer handling systems of vaious characters. It is a feature of the invention that the body It! is a single compact upright orv vertical unit having a relatively small diameter. The body iil includes a suitable base I3 for carrying or supporting the various other parts of the device. The base 83 may be round in horizontal cross section and may have a relieved or. hollow lower side. The body NJ is sectional including a lower section M providing the chamber A, a ported partition or block l5 and an upper section 55 providing the chamber B. The body sections 14 and it are formed of glass or other transparent material whereby the operation of the device may be observed. The upper and lower body sections it and it are preferably cylindrical tubular members as illustrated throughout the drawings. The lower chamber section 14 rests or seats on the upper side of the base I3 to project upwardly from its center.

The partition or block I5 houses or carries the reversing valve means I 2 and is provided with the inlet and drain ports as will be subsequently described. In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings the'block I5 is a substantially rectangular member interposed between the upper and lower chamber sections I4 and I6. The flat lower side of the block I5 is seated on the upper end of the section I4. Suitable sealing gaskets I1 may be arranged between the lower end of the section I4 and the base I3 and the block I5 and the upper end of the section I4. The upper chamber section I6 seats on the upper end of the block I5 to project upwardly therefrom in longitudinal alignment with the lower section I4. A plate or head I8 covers the upper end of the section I6. Gaskets I9 are arranged between the ends of the section I5 and the block I5 and the head I8.

Means is provided for holding the several body sections and parts properly-assembled. Spaced rods 20 project upwardly from the base I3 and extend through openings in the block I5 and head I8. In the particular case illustrated in the drawings there are four equally spaced rods 20 passing through openings in the corner portions of the block I5 and head I8. The lower portions of the rods 20 extend through openings in downwardly projecting bosses 2| on the hollowed lower side of the base I3. Nuts 22 are threaded on the opposite end portions of the rods 20 to clamp the sectional body structure together.

In accordance with the invention the lower portions of the chambers A and B are adapted to be placed in communication with the opposite ends of the coil or piping system to be cleaned. A lateral horizontal port 23 is provided in the base I3 and has its inner end in communication with the lower end of the chamber A. The mouth or inner end portion 24 of the port 23 is preferably enlarged to be of substantially the same diameter as the chamber A. A projecting threaded boss 25 is provided on the base I3 at the outer end of the port 23 to receive the end of ahose,nip-

ple, pipe, or coil and to facilitate the connection of the device with the coil or system to be cleaned. A port 26 is provided in the block I5 to communicate with the lower end of the upper body chamber B. The port 26 is enlarged where it joins or has communication with the chamber B. The port 26 extends outwardly through a projecting boss 21 on the block I5. The boss 21 may project in the same direction as the boss 25 and maybe threaded to facilitate the connection of the device with the coil or system to be cleaned.

The cleansing or scouring material II is provided in the device to be circulated or forced through the coil or piping system for the purpose of removing the slime and undesirable accumulations. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention cleansing or scouring materials or various characters may be employed in the device. In cleaning beer coils, where it is desirable to preserve the beer stone, it has been found practical to employ relatively fine rounded gravel or glass beads as the scouring medium, or

material. In practice the material I I is initially provided in one chamber, say the chamber A, and is circulated through the coil or piping into the upper chamber B. The means I2 may then be adjusted or set to reverse the flow through the device and piping or coil so that the material I I is circulated back through the coil or system to the lower chamber A. The material II is driven or forced through the piping or coil by water under pressure and together with the water scours and Washes all the undesirable accumulations from the system or coil. A valve 28 may be provided to control the port 23 and to prevent the loss of the material I I from the chamber A when the device is moved from place to place. The valve 28 may be in the form of a tapered plug fitting a correspondingly shaped opening 29 in the base I3. The valve 28 has a transverse opening or port 30 adapted to be moved into and out of registration with the port 23. An operating handle 3I is provided on the projecting end portion of the valve 28. When the valve 28 is in its closed position the cleansing or scouring material II which may be in the chamber A cannot spill or pass outwardly through the port 23.

The means I2 is provided to control the flow through the device and the coil or piping system and is adapted to be set or adjusted to first pass the water and scouring material II from one of the chambers A or B through the coil or system to the other chamber and then may be adjusted or reversed to reverse the flow so that the scouring material I I is forced or carried through the system or coil to be returned to the first named chamber. The flow controlling means I2 provides or includes a system of ports in the block I5. block I5 through a projecting boss 33 which is adapted to be connected with a suitable source- S of water under pressure. A drain or outlet port 34 is provided in the block I5 and extends through a projecting boss 35 which is adapted.

to be connected with a drain pipe 36. The bosses 33 and 35 project from opposite sides of the block I5 and the ports 32 and 34 are in longi-' tudinal and horizontal alignment. A port 31 is provided in the lower portion of the block I5 to communicate with the upper end of the chamto the upper end portion of the chamber B.

A plate or web H is attached to the under side of the head I8 and carries a screen 42. The under or lower side of the head I8 is provided with a socket 43 and the screen 42 extends across the lower end of the socket to prevent the passage of the scouring material II into the socket from the chamber B. Means is provided for preventing the cleansing or scouring material II from entering the port 31 from the chamber A. A socket 44 is provided in the lower side of the block I5 to communicate with the port 31. A perforated plate 45 is arranged across the lower end of the socket 44 and carries a screen 46.

The screen 46 prevents the granular scouring material II chamber A to the port 31. I

The inlet port 32. the outlet port 34, and the ports 31 and 38 converge to join or communicate with a horizontal opening 41 in the block I5. The ports 31 and 38 extending to the chambers A and B are spaced 180 apart and the inlet and outlet ports 32 and 34 are spaced between the ports 31 and 38 so that the several ports communicating with the opening 31 are spaced from one another. This relationship An inlet port 32 enters the from passing upwardly from the drawings.

The means l2 includes a valve 48' for controlling the flow through the ports 32, 34; 31.- and. The valve 48- is in the 38 in the block [5. form of a directional valve turnable. or rotatable in the opening 4].

position where the port 49 connects the inlet port 32 with the port 3'! and the port 50 connects. the port 38 with the outlet port 34 and a.- position where the port 50 connects the inlet port 3.2'wit-h the chamber port 38 and the port 49'connects the chamber port 31 with the" outlet port 34. A stem 5! is provided on the valve 48 and extends outwardly through an annular projection 52 on the block I 5. A suitable operating; lever or handle 53 is provided on the stem 5|. A plug 55 is threaded into the annular'enlargement 52 and a spring 54 is arranged under com.-

pression between the valve 48 and the plug to act on or urge the valve into the opening 41.

Suitable washers 56 may be provided at the opposite ends of the spring 54.

In employing the device of the present invention the bosses and 2'! are connected with the opposite ends of a piping system or coil to put the ports 23 and 26 in communication with theends of the system or coil. In the drawings.

I have illustrated one branch or end.v portion 58' of acoil C connected with the boss 25 to communicate with the port 23 and the other end portion 59 of the coil connected withthe boss 21 to communicate with the port 26; The water lineo-r source S of water under pressureis connected with the boss 33' to discharge into the port 32 while a suitable drain 36 is.- connected. with the boss to receive the discharging water port 32 is in communication with the chamber- A and the port 38 from the chamber B isin communication with the outlet port 34. Water under suitable pressure is passed through the source or pipe S to flow through the port 32 and: ports 49 and 31 into; the upper end of. the chamber A. This water under pressure. passing downwardly through the chamber A carries. the scouring material ll into the system or coil C. The flowing water under pressure carries or forces the granular scouring material ll through the coil C so that it is effective in removing the undesirable accumulations from the interior of the coil. In practice the material H cleans or scours away the relatively soft slime, etc., without re-- moving the beer stone and without injuring the coil and other fittings.

liquid is free to pass. outwardly through the:

- screen 42 and socket 43. into the pipe. 40. while The opening 41 may be Ion-- gitudinally tapered and the valve 48 may be like- The valve 48 has diametrically opposite:

The valve 28 is preferably maintained in The water and material passes from the coil C into the port 26" and then into the upper body chamber B. The water' or:

the? screen operatestotrap the granular scouring. material II. inthe chamber B. The loosened slime; being made up of very fine particles, readily passes'through the screen and, together with the water, passes. down the pipe 40 outwardly through the ports. 38 and 50 into the drain 34. As the-body'sections' I4 and I3 are of transparent material the action or operation of the device may be observed. The water or cleaning medium is preferably passed through the device and coil C until the water flowing through the chamber B- isclear: or substantially clear.

' In. most instances it. is desirable to circulate or pass thegranular scouring material ll' through the system or coil several times in both'directions-to insurea thorough cleansing or removal of undesirable accumulations. To reverse the flow throughv the device and coil C the valve 487 is: t-urn'edi'or approximately 90 so that its ports put the inlet port'32 into-communication with the port 38 and put theport 3-! from the lower body chamher into communication with the drain port 34. The. incoming-water under pressure from theport 32; then passes upwardly through the pipe 40 to discharge into the upper portion of the; body chamber: B; The scouring material II that has been trapped'in the-chamber B is then forcedoutwardly'througlr the port 26' with the-flowing waterunder pressure to pass or circulate through the coil'C. From thecoil. C the Water and-material l I passesthrough the: port 23- into the lower body chamber-A. The liquid. medium or'water and the loosened slime freely'passes outwardly through the screen 46 into the socket 44 and ports=31 and 34-. The granular scouring material I l istrapped or retainedin the body chamber A asitcannot pass. through-the-screen46. In. the operation of the device-it will be observed that the seeming material willleave the chamber'in which it is con.- ta-i-ned in substantially a mass. The scouring material after. passing through the coil C will re.- turn to the? other chamberinisubstantially amass. followed by a flow of cloudy water, this cloudiness being. due to. the loosened slime. The. water is per-- mitted to circulate through the coil C until the. cloudiness disappears indicating the removal of the:loosened slime. Upon. several reverses of. flow no further. cloudiness. can. be developed'by the passage. of. the: securing. material. This. indicates that. the undesirable accumulations. have been.

removed fromthe system or. coil C. The supply of waterfrom thepipe S may then be cutoff and the device. detached-from the coil..C.

The present invention provides a device for cleaning; beer coils and beer handling, piping systems. that. is smalland. compact and easy to attach and. operate. The device is in the form of av singlevertical-ly disposed unit that may be readily installed. and. operated in relatively confined places. The device includes a minimum number of. simple, inexpensive parts and is particularly easyto connectto the coil or piping system.

Having described only a typical'preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or'restricted to the specific form and application herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself" any" modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device forcleaning a fiuid handling coil or the like includinga body having a lower chamber, an upper chamber and a port'communicating with the-lower chamber-andadapted to communicate with one endiof the coil, and a partitionbetween the chambers having a port communicating with the upper chamber and adapted to be put in communication with the other end of the coil, the partition having an outlet port and an inlet port adapted to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure, and reversible means for putting one chamber in communication with the inlet port and the other chamber in communication with the outlet port. 7 r

2. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including two vertically aligned sections each having a chamber, a partition between the sections having an inlet port to' connect with a source of fluid under pressure, an outlet port, and a port for putting one chamber in communication with one end of the system, means for putting the other chamber in communication with the other 7 end of the system, and reversible means carried by the partition for putting one chamber in communication with the inlet port and one chamber in communication with the outlet port.

3. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including two vertically aligned transparent sections each having a chamber, a partition between the sections having an inlet port to connect with a source of fluid under pressure, an outlet port, and a port for putting one chamber in communication with one end of the sys-' tem, means for putting the other chamber in communication with the other end of the system, and reversible means for putting one chamber in communication with the inlet port and one chamber in communication with the outlet port.

4, A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including two vertically aligned sections each having a chamber, and a partition between the sections having an inlet port to connect with a source of fluid under pressure, an outlet port, and a port for putting one chamber in communication with one end of the system, means for putting the other chamber in communication with the other end of the system, and reversible means for putting one chamber in communication with the inlet port and one chamber in communication with the outlet port, the reversible means including a directional valve in the partition.

5. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including two vertically aligned sections each having a chamber, and a partition between the sections having an inlet port to connect with a source of fluid under pressure, an outlet port, and a port for putting one chamber in communication with one end of the system, means for putting the other chamber in communication with the other end of the system, granular material in one chamber adapted to be circulated through the system, and reversible means for putting one chamber in communication with the inlet port and one chamber in communication with the outlet port.

6. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including two vertically aligned sections each having a chamber, and a partition between the sections having an inlet port to connect with a source of fluid under pressure, an outlet port, and a port for putting one chamber in communication with one end of the system, means for putting the other chamber in communication with the other end of the system, granular material'in one chamber adapted to be circulated through the system, means for'preventing passage of said material from the chambers to the outlet port, and reversible means for putting one chamber in communication with the inlet port and one chamber in communication with the outlet port.

'7. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including a base, a section on the base having a chamber, a block arranged on the section and having an outlet port and an inlet port to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure, a'second section extending from the block having a chamber, the base having a port communicating with the chamber of the first mentioned section and adapted to be placed in communication with one end of the pipe system, the block having a port communicating with the chamber of the second section and adapted to be placed in communication with the other end of the pipe system, and valve means carried by the block for putting one chamber in communication with the inlet port and the other chamber in communication with the outlet port.

8. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including a base, two tubular transparent sections, one section projecting upwardly from the base, a block supported on the upper end of said section, the other section being supported on the block to project upwardly therefrom, the base having a port communicating with the interior of the lower section and adapted to be connected with one end of the pipe system, the block having an outlet port, an inlet port to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure, and a port communicating with the interior of the upper section and adapted to be connected with the other end of the pipe system, granular material to be circulated through the pipe system from one chamber to the other, anda reversible valve in the block for putting the inlet port in communication with the interior of one section and the outlet port in communication with the interior of the other section.

9. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including a base, a section on the base having a chamber, a block arranged on the section and having an outlet port and an inlet port to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure, a second section extending upwardly from the block having a chamber, the base having a port communicating with the chamber of the first mentioned section and adapted to be placed in communication with one end of the pipe system, the block having a port communicating with the chamber of the second section and adapted to be placed in communication with the other end of the pipe system, and having ports communicating with the two chambers, a reversible valve for putting one of the last named ports in communication with the inlet port and the other of the last named ports in communication with the outlet port, granular material to be circulated through the pipe system from one chamber to the other, and screens preventing the passage of said material into said last named ports.

10. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including two vertically spaced chambers each having'a port, said ports being adapted to be connected with the opposite ends of the pipe system, a partition between the chambers having an inlet port, an outlet port, a port in communication with the lower chamber, and a fourth port, a pipe extending from the fourth port to the upper portion of the upper chamber a reversible valve for connecting one of the last named ports with the inlet port and the other with the outlet port, and granular material for circulation through the pipe system from one chamber to the other.

11. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including two vertically spaced chambers each having a port, said ports being adapted to be connected with the opposite ends of the pipe system, a partition between the chambers having an inlet port, an outlet port, a port in communication with the lower chamber, and .a fourth port, a pipe extending from the fourth port to the upper portion of the upper chamber, a reversible valve for connecting one of the last named ports with the inlet port and the other with the outlet port, granular material for circulation through the pipe system from one chamber to the other, and screen for preventing the passage of said material through the said pipe and the port in the partition communicating with the lower chamber.

12. A device for cleaning a fluid handling pipe system including a base, a section on the base having a chamber, a block arranged on the section and having an outlet port and an inlet port to be connected with a source of fluid under pressure, a second section extending upwardly from the block having a chamber, the base having a port communicating with the chamber of the first mentioned section and adapted to be placed in communication with one end of the pipe system, a valve for controlling the port in the base, the block having a port communicating with the chamber of the second section and adapted to be placed in communication with the other end of the pipe system, and valve means carried by the block for putting one chamber in communication with the inlet port and the other cham-- ber in communication with the outlet port.

13. A device for cleaning a pipe system including a base, a section on the base having a chamber, a partition at the upper end of the section, a second section arranged on the partition to extend upwardly therefrom, the partition having an inlet port, an outlet port, a third port communicating with the lower chamber and a fourth port, a cap closing the upper end of the upper chamber and having an opening in communication therewith, a pipe extending through the upper chamber and connecting the opening with the fourth port, means for putting the chambers in communication with the opposite ends of the pipe system, and a reversible valve in the partition controlling the said third and fourth ports and operable to connect one with the inlet port and the other with the outlet port.

WILLIAM M. MARKER. 

